Nevada County picayune., 1887-11-09
AGRICULTURAL.
Broom Corn Growing.

Broom corn can be grown in al most every part of the United States. Unless the crop can be held over when prices are low, broom com growing can not be recommended, as tue price of no other crop tluctuates more-from forty to three hundred dollars per ton. Also, on heavy clay soil, or on foul land, it will hardly be profitable. Ii is crop that re. ouires so much work that it's aver age cost will be from fifteen to twenty dollars per acre. The av- craze yield per acre is six hundred pounds. There are only two varl. cites worth growing. The Dwarf variety, which grows only three to four feet high, is little cultivated, its brush being used only for whisks and clothes brushes The Evergreen, Missouri, or TenneS- see. i. the standard variety. It yields q long, fine brush, and re- tains it's green color till the seeds ripen. Broom corn requires more warmth than Indian corn, hence does best on a sandy, or black loam soil. and in the North tEe ground should be plowed in the fall or very early in the Spring, and put in fine tiltll for the crop. But nothing is gained by planting before the ground is warm. It is of the utmost importance to get good seed; select the best seed, "swim it," and rejedt all that floats. On very clean land it may be put in drills three feet apart, the stalks in the drills three 10 four inches apart. Otherwise plant in rows three feet apart, hills two feet apart in the TOW, six to eight stalks in the hill, and drop only enough, tor thinning is a tedious, hard job. Cover lightly, not deeper than an inch. Its cultivation is the same as for Indian corn, but must be thorough. Usually at least one hoeing will be required. The ground must be clean and mellow when the crop is young.
 Tue care in harvesting of few other crops has as much effect up on the profit. The brush must not be allowed to lie in the rain, or be moved too green, nor must the seed be allowed to ripeu. The seed is fairly good stock food, but if allowed to ripen the value of the brush is reduced more than the seed is worth. Begin cutting as soon as the blossom falls; then the brush will be heavlest and have the best color. First comes "tabllng"-breaking two rows at about two feet from the ground (by man going backward be- tween them and laying them across each other, so that all the brush projects into the space between the tables; this may be done and yet the stalks be at such an angle that the table will support the brush when cut. To cut properly, be careful not to catch the leaf; place the knife against the stalk about eight inches from the brush, and draw the brush, not the knife The blade must not be taken off with the brush. As the brush Is cut it is laid on the table, and then hauled in wagons to be scraped. In scraplng, separate the crooked brush from the straight. The scraping is done on a small cylin- der, like that of a threshing ma chine, but no concave k used, and it is run from the operator. The power may be a one or two horse power. Scraying is to take of the seed. The scraped brush must be cured under shelter. Any building or shed through which there is free circulation of air will answer, It is best to COL struct racks upon which to lay the brush, as when green it should not be more than three inches deep; but as it becomes partly cured. more brush may be laid upon it. lllinols grows more broom corn than any other State. American AgIiculturist.